The Los Angeles Dodgers opted to keep veteran slugger Teoscar Hernández out of the starting lineup on Tuesday for their series opener against the Atlanta Braves, a move manager Dave Roberts characterized as a necessary response to the player's recent performance. Hernández was replaced in left field by Alex Call for the less favorable right-on-right matchup against Braves starter Bryce Elder.
Roberts described Hernández's recent at-bats as "not great." Over his last 18 games, the 33-year-old outfielder had batted .172 with no home runs, 22 strikeouts, and only two walks. His .441 OPS in that span ranked as the third-worst in the National League.
While Roberts characterized Tuesday's lineup decision as "just a day off for Teo," he indicated that Hernández would return to the lineup for the remaining five games on the Dodgers' road trip. "He’s been grinding," Roberts said. "I figure give him a couple days and then he’ll be in there."
The team hopes Hernández can use this time to make mechanical adjustments. "There’s a little mechanics part of it, which is leading to a lot of swing-and-miss, which leads to frustration," Roberts explained. "[He] worked real hard today with the hitting guys. They said they’ve seen some things in the swing that could help. So I’m encouraged."
Since returning from a hamstring strain two months ago, Hernández's numbers have declined. Before the injury, he was hitting .276 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs in his first 51 games. Since then, his average has dropped to .206 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 45 games.
He has particularly struggled against right-handed pitching this season, hitting .236 with a .662 OPS, compared to a .267 average and .783 OPS against left-handed pitchers. This trend has led to speculation about potential complementary options in left field, especially with Triple-A player James Tibbs III, a left-handed hitter, continuing to perform well.
However, the Dodgers are mindful of Hernández's postseason track record, where he has a history of strong performance in recent World Series appearances. The team still believes in his ability to improve and perform against right-handed pitching. Still, the team's patience is not unlimited, and Tuesday's lineup decision serves as a reminder of his need for a rebound.